Vehicle direction indicator



Nov. 7, 1939. w. E. OSHEI VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed March 22', 1935 '/%//idm Edna rt/a kei Patented Nov. 7, 1939 PATENT @Ftifit'z.

VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR William Edward Oshei, Brentford, England Application March 22, 1935, Serial No. 12,481 In Great Britain March 26, 1934 7 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle direction indicators of the type comprising a semaphore or like arm which may, for example, be pivotally mounted and swung upwardly to an indicating position.

In indicators of this type it is known to provide an electromagnet or solenoid which is adapted to be energised to swing the arm upwardly to its indicating position, the arm returning by gravity when the current is cut off. With such an arrangement, owing to the great difference in the leverage between the arms of the semaphore arm, it found that the'sclenoid requires a considerable power to raise the arm which consequently causes a severe load on the battery.

It is also known to operate arms of this na tore through mediumof a suction cylinder which is connected to the suction of the engine, but a disadvantage arises in this form of device in that when proceeding around a corner an acceleration of the engine destroys the suction and the arm falls by gravity earlier than it is desirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved actuating device for semaphore signalling arms for vehicles by which the above disadvantages are eliminated.

The invention. consists in means for operating vehicle direction indicators having a semaphore arm or the like comprising a power unit adapted to move the arm to a signalling a position and means for reducing the power of said unit to a degree sufficient to maintain the arm in said position.

According to a feature of the invention the movement of the arm to the indicating position may be effected by suction-actuated means and independent means are provided adapted to retain the arm in the indicating position. The arm-retaining means may comprise an electromagnet cr solenoid of relatively small power.

By such an arrangement it will be appreciated that when the arm is in the indicating position, in the event of the suction being destroyed the arm will still be retained in theindicating position until the current is cut off. Moreover, a solenoid of relatively small power is sufficient for the purpose of retaining the arm up when the initial resistance has been overcome.

According to a further feature positive means may be provided for returning the arm to its normal position. Thus a double acting piston may be provided the suction cylinder, valve means being provided for alternately coupling either end of the cylinder to a source of suction.

Further features of invention will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the various formsof operatingmechanism ac- 60 cording to the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a suction-electric operating device.

Figures 2 and 3 are detail views of a suction control used in connection with the form shown in Figure 1.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, the semaphore arm I!) is adapted normally to hang in the vertical position and is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin H supported by a pair of parallel arms connected to a suitable bracket or in any other suitable way. Arranged with its axis parallel with the semaphore arm and inwardly thereof is an actuator the form of a suction cylinder l2 the piston iii of which is provided with a rod M adapted to support a horizontally disposed actuator bar 65. This bar extends towards the semaphore arm above the pivotal axis thereof and is adapted to be lowered into operative relation with a cross pin Ni or abutment carried by the short lever of the semaphore arm, the arrangement being such that on downward movement of the piston the bar i ll moves downwardly into engagement with said cross pin or abutment it and causes a pivotal action of the semaphore arm, raising the arm to the signalling position.

At a convenient position in the suction cylinder 2 a solenoid coil H or electromagnet is provided surrounding the piston rod and is connected to a battery lead It. The other end of the coil IT is earthed. The strength of the solenoid or magnet is such that when the arm is in the indicating position it will be retained in such position irrespective of the suction action by the attraction of the iron washer i l-c on the piston rod. In the event of the suction being destroyed the arm will thus be maintained in its indicating position.

The semaphore arm is provided in the usual manner with a lamp so that it may be illuminated for night use and the lead 2t from the lamp is connected to a contact device N which may conveniently be coaxial with the cross pin or abutment it of the short lever of the arm. The arrangement is such that when the arm is moved to the indicating position the contact 21 will engage a spring contact is which is energised by the bridging of contacts Eda, ltb by the washer i ib when the arm is raised. The circuit for the lamp is completed by way of the vehicle frame.

The actuating bar it mounted upon the piston rod is provided with a light spring 22 which engages the cross pin it whereby when the arm is hanging vertically the bar rises off the cross pin and engages a part of the arm and thus prevents a swinging of the semaphore arm, the latter thereby being locked in its inoperative position.

In order to return the arm to the normal positicn, according to the present form, the piston I3 is double acting, a suction connection 23 being provided opening to the cylinder above the piston,

positive means thus provided for returning the arm, avoiding the difficulty that sometimes occurs of the arm sticking in the signalling position or failing to return completely home when depending upon gravity for the purpose.

A suction control valve is provided adapted to be mounted in any convenient position.

This control device, see Figures 2 and 3, is provided with a pair of slide valves 2% and 25, one for the right hand signal and one for the left.

The valves are mounted upon a box 26 having a bore connected to a source of suction 28.

The core ill has lateral branches Z9 and 39 leading to ports 3i and in the valve seat 33.

The box is also provided with ports ti l and 35 leading to connections 36 and 37 which are coupled up to the cylinder suction connections respectively (Figure 1).

Similar connections 39 and it are provided for the other indicator.

With the valve in the position shown the port 35 is opening to atmosphere through the guide slot ll While the port 3 is connected to suction hrough the recess 52 in the valve.

In operation, on the valve 2 being moved to the operative position (downwardly in Figure 2) the suction cylinder below the piston is coupled to the suction of the engine. At the same time a switch in the battery lead i8 is closed. This switch may be actuated by being coupled to the valve lid.

The semaphore arm is the shy raised by the bar l5 engaging the abutment 0'" in it and when the arm is at the signalling position the solenoid or electromagnet is energised by contact iii engaging spring contact is and is effective to hold the arm raised in the event of the suction being destroyed. On moving the control valve to its normal position the cylinder below the piston is placed in communication ith the atmosphere while alcove the piston communication is made with suction whereby the arm is positively lowered the solenoid at the same time being deenergised. When the arm reaches the si lialling position and the solenoid becomes effective to give the final movement and/ or hold the arm extended, the cylinder may automatically be opened to atmosphere irrespective of the control device.

According to a modified arrangement of the circuits for the coil ill and lamp whereby a switch in the battery lead is unnecessary, the battery lead it may be coupled to the contact 5% while one end of the coil i! is coupled to 59 and ifia, the other end being earthed. With such an arrangement 0n 69a and [19b being bridged by i ib the coil il will be energized to attract Ma and the lamp will be illuminated by El engaging E8, the circuits being in parallel or again the battery lead may be connected to the coil il the coil also being earthed, while the contact is insulated from the casing. In such case energization of the coil is effected when lit engages it, the coil and lamp being in series. With such an arrangement the contacts Wit and iilb are not required.

I claim:

1. Means for operating vehicle direction indicators having a semaphore arm comprising suction means for moving the arm to the signalling position, independent means normally inoperative but rendered operative by movement of the arm to the signaling position for retaining the arm in such position, and suction means op erable to counteract said independent means and return the arm to its normal position.

2. Means for operating vehicle direction indica tors having a semaphore arm comprising suction means for moving the arm to the signalling position, an electromagnet for retaining the arm in such position, means operative by movement of the arm to such position for rendering the electromagnet operative, and suction means for returning the arm to its normal position, and sim. taneously rendering the electro-magnet inoperative.

3. In means for operating vehicle direction indicators having a semaphore arm, suction means comprising a cylinder having a. double acting piston for moving the arm to and from the signalling position, means for connecting the cylinder to the intake manifold of the vehicle engine, and holding means acting by magnetic attraction on. a part movable with the arm for retaining the arm in the signalling position.

l. A. direction indicator for motor vehicles, comprising a signal device, an actuator for moving the same from one to the other of two positions, said actuator including a piston operatively connected to the signal device to actuate the same and a chamber in which the piston operates, a pair of fluid supply ports opening into the chamber at opposite sides of the piston for providing the required pressure differential on the piston to move it from and to an inoperative position, m ans for operatively applying and reversing the pressures acting on the piston, and electromagnetic means for magnetically retaining the pistonin one of its positions in the event the pressure fails after moving the piston to such position.

5. A direction indicator for motor vehicles, comprising a signal device, an actuator for moving the same from one to the other of JWO positlons, said actuator including a reciprocatory member operatively connected to the signal device to actuate the same and means for moving the member in one direction, said moving means being hollow in order to guidingly receive the same during such movement, electromagnetic means arranged coaxially with said moving means for magnetically retaining the member in the position to which it is moved by said moving means, and an illuminating circuit for the signal device including separable switch contacts held closed by the electromagnetic means.

6. Means for operating vehicle direction indicators having a semaphore arm, comprising, in combination with said arm, means for moving the arm to a signalling position, an electromagnet for retaining the arm by attraction in such position, and means for applying to said first means a pressure of sufficient magnitude to overcome the attractive force of said magnet and return said arm to an inoperative position.

7. In combination with a source of fluctuating suction, such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, an indicating device, suction means comprising a cylinder having a double acting piston for moving the device to and from an indicating position, and means for retaining the device in such indicating position with a force adapted to be overcome by a pre' determined suction influence from said source, whereby said suction means may return the device to an inoperative position against the holding force of said retaining means.

WILLIAM EDWARD OSHEI. 

